’04 MATRIX_U (L/O 0307)
28
2004 MATRIX from Oct. ’03 Prod. (OM12861U)
While  the  vehicle  is  being  driven,  all  ve-
hicle  occupants  should  have  the  seatback
upright,  sit  well  back  in  the  seat  and  prop-
erly  wear  the  seat  belts  provided.
CAUTION
! Do  not  drive  the  vehicle  unless  the
occupants  are  properly  seated.  Do
not  allow  any  passengers  to  sit  on
top  of  a  folded−down  seatback,  or
in  the  luggage  compartment  or  car-
go  area.  Persons  not  properly
seated  and/or  not  properly  re-
strained  by  seat  belts  can  be  se-
verely  injured  in  the  event  of  emer-
gency  braking  or  a  collision.
! During  driving,  do  not  allow  any
passengers  to  stand  up  or  move
around  between  seats.  Otherwise,
severe  injuries  can  occur  in  the
event  of  emergency  braking  or  a
collision.
Driver  seat
CAUTION
The  SRS  driver  airbag  deploys  with
considerable  force,  and  can  cause
death  or  serious  injury  especially  if
the  driver  is  very  close  to  the  airbag.
The  National  Highway  Traffic  Safety
Administration  (“NHTSA”)  advises:
Since  the  risk  zone  for  driver  airbag
is  the  first  50—75  mm  (2—3  in.)  of
inflation,  placing  yourself  250  mm  (10
in.)  from  your  driver  airbag  provides
you  with  a  clear  margin  of  safety.
This  distance  is  measured  from  the
center  of  the  steering  wheel  to  your
breastbone.  If  you  sit  less  than  250
mm  (10  in.)  away  now,  you  can
change  your  driving  position  in  sever-
al  ways:
! Move  your  seat  to  the  rear  as  far
as  you  can  while  still  reaching  the
pedals  comfortably.
! Slightly  recline  the  back  of  the
seat.  Although  vehicle  designs  vary,
many  drivers  can  achieve  the  250
mm  (10  in.)  distance,  even  with  the
driver  seat  all  the  way  forward,  sim-
ply  by  reclining  the  back  of  the
seat  somewhat.  If  reclining  the  back
of  your  seat  makes  it  hard  to  see
the  road,  raise  yourself  by  using  a
firm,  non−slippery  cushion,  or  raise
the  seat  if  your  vehicle  has  that
feature.
! If  your  steering  wheel  is  adjustable,
tilt  it  downward.  This  points  the  air-
bag  toward  your  chest  instead  of
your  head  and  neck.
The  seat  should  be  adjusted  as  rec-
ommended  by  NHTSA  above,  while
still  maintaining  control  of  the  foot
pedals,  steering  wheel,  and  your  view
of  the  instrument  panel  controls.
Seats
Front  seats— 
—Front  seat  precautions